An Equitable Exchange

Abstract:

As geoscientists seek to address urgent challenges related to anthropogenic environmental and climate change, approaches to combining research and problem-solving are more frequently turning to communities and an emphasis on place-based work. Learning from examples in other fields, this research has considered new models that can be characterized as participatory or aligned with the principles of “co-production”; where problem identification, research approaches and products are pursued in collaboration with local community members. The NSF project ASPIRE (Active Societal Participation in Research and Education) has sought to encourage this approach to geoscience research with an emphasis on underrepresented communities as a mechanism to broaden participation. We outline the “equitable exchange” as an ethical framework for guiding these interactions. This principled research model emphasizes that “currencies” - the rewards and value from participating in research - differ between local communities and geoscientists. Exchanging these currencies respectfully provides a place-based context bridging basic and applied science; academia and local communities; and aligning places where science is needed and places where science is typically conducted.